Hautkrebs rechtzeitig erkennen

Skin cancer is a topic that is widely spoken, but many are unaware of the danger. In this article "Detecting Skin Cancer in Time" you will find out everything you need to know about the subject.


From sunburn or other harmless skin damage to a malignant skin lesion, it is often a long process. Therefore, early detection can save lives, because a melanoma only becomes dangerous if it is discovered too late and has already metastasized.


The generic term "skin cancer" refers to all malignant neoplasms of the skin, fortunately not all of them are fatal.


There are mainly four different types of skin cancer examinations (rarer forms are not to be dealt with here):


Basalioma (basal cell carcinoma): Basalioma is the most common and at the same time the most harmless form of skin cancer. It has its origin in the basal cell layer of the skin (located in the lowest layer of the epidermis), hence its name. Basaliomas are caused by intense exposure to the sun and are most common on the face; they often appear as hemispherical, steadily growing, skin-colored nodules, criss-crossed with tiny blood vessels or as poorly healing wounds. The basalioma continues to grow locally and destructively if left untreated, but does not settle. The treatment of choice is surgical removal.


Active niche keratosis: Actinic keratoses are precursors of white skin cancer. They typically occur in areas of the body that are more exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands and arms. They usually appear as reddish or brownish, flaky spots. If left untreated, every tenth actinic keratosis develops into a squamous cell carcinoma (spinalioma). Active keratoses should therefore be treated in good time. Various methods are available for this, including creams and radiation therapy.

Squamous cell carcinoma (spinalioma): Spinaliomas are the second most common form of skin cancer. Like their precursor, actinic keratoses, they often occur in areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.


Typical manifestations are scaly, sometimes nodular skin changes that grow very quickly and can then also ooze and bleed. Depending on their depth of penetration, they can also form metastases, so an early and exact surgical removal is advisable.


Black skin cancer: Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous and luckily rarest of all the skin cancers described here.


It is usually pigmented in dark brown to black and develops on the bottom of a mole. But there are also melanomas that appear as reddish lumps or pale growths on the skin (so-called amelanotic melanomas). Melanomas can occur at any age, but are very rare in childhood.


Skin cancer can occur in many different forms, which is why there is no typical visual diagnosis. If a birthmark changes over the years or if you have a particularly large number of spots, you should see a doctor. In order to be able to assess a mole yourself, the ABCD rule is ideal for self-checking on your own skin.


A for asymmetry: uneven, asymmetrical shape of a skin spot.


B for boundary: a dark birthmark has uneven, faded, rough edges.


C for Color: different discolorations of one spot.


D as in diameter: A spot with more than five millimeters should prompt a visit to the specialist.


In addition to these abnormalities, factors such as rapid growth, change in shape, itching, and bleeding from a birthmark can be signs of skin cancer.


If surgical removal is not performed in a timely manner, melanomas can metastasize to all organs in the body. Therefore it is better to go to the art unnecessarily than too late.


You can find more information on the subject of skin here: https://le-manoir.de/dermablog/


Further information on "Detecting skin cancer in good time": https://www.krebsgesellschaft.de/onko-internetportal/basis-informationen-krebs/krebsarten/hautkrebs/fruehendung.html


Your dr. med. Peter Kessler